Dietary Habits, Lifestyles And Anthropometric Characteristics Of Police Officers In Owo Local Government Area Ondo State, Nigeria
1*Olanrewaju, O.I, 1Oladapo, A.A, 1Roland-Ayodele- M.A, 1Sanni, S.M, 1Philip, L.F, 1Yekini, A.A, and 1Faborode, M.B
1Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
*Correspondence Author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Background: Poor nutritional status couples with sedentary lifestyles are some of the risk factors that hindered
optimum health not only among individual but also the Nigeria police officers.
Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the dietary habits, lifestyles practices and anthropometric status of police
officers in Owo local government area of Ondo state.
Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, which involved 200 (140 male and 60 female) police
officers who were randomly selected from seven (7) police divisional stations in Owo local government area of Ondo
state. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, medical and lifestyle was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Food consumption data was obtained using the World Food Programme (WFP)’s standard food consumption score questionnaire. Obesity was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist –Hip Ratio (WHR) and Waist Circumference (WC). Statistical Product Service Solution (SPSS) version 20.0 was used in data analysis. Coded data were analyzed using descriptive and statistics results presented in frequencies and percentage Result: Finding shows that nearly half (46%) of them were of 30-49yrs. More (70%) male police officers participated than female police officers (30%). One third (33%) had parents that were suffering from chronic diseases while 38% were hypertensive. About (60%) drink alcohol, 67% smoke cigarette, 23% did not engage in physical exercise. Large number (66%) always adds vegetables to their diet, 30% took orange fruit been the most widely consumed and 16% skipped meal. On food consumption score, 50% met the acceptable consumption score for calorie level Prevalence of underweight and Overweight/Obesity as determined by abnormal values for BMI, WC, and WHR, 17%, 30%, 35% and 16% respectively.
Conclusion: This study observed high prevalence of obesity, poor dietary practices and higher consumption of alcohol and cigarette among the police officers in Owo.
Keywords: Hypertension, overweight/obesity, police officers, alcohol consumption
